Microsoft speeds up Windows 11 on 8GB PCs as RAM prices keep climbing

[Overfit83]

Microsoft is making Windows 11 work better on PCs with less memory. The Register reports that Microsoft says 8GB PCs can now be up to 20 percent more responsive and 40 percent faster at multitasking

Windows now keeps up to 2GB more active data in RAM before moving it to storage. Edge launches up to 33 percent faster when it is already running in the background, and its tab sleep timer drops from two hours to 15 minutes. Teams turns on Efficiency Mode by default on 8GB machines and launches up to 20 percent faster, while Widgets only load when they are used

The changes arrive in Windows 11 26H2, build 26300.9818 or later, with some coming through app or Microsoft Store updates. Third party apps can also take advantage of them

Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's executive vice president for Windows and Devices, said 8GB is a great fit for many people's everyday tasks, though he said demanding work still needs 16GB or more, and Copilot+ PCs require 16GB. The figures are Microsoft's own, and a Microsoft commissioned test found a 2026 8GB Dell XPS 13 roughly matched a 2021 16GB model in selected tasks

With memory prices soaring, many budget PCs will ship with 8GB, so optimising Windows for them makes sense. Faster tab sleeping in Edge is a sensible change that should help most users. Independent testing will show how much difference people notice in practice

Is 8GB still enough for a Windows PC? And have you noticed rising memory prices when shopping for computers?

Microsoft improves Windows 11 performance on 8 GB PCs as RAM prices keep climbingwww.theregister.com

[Southern William]

Other developers' apps being able to use these improvements is a nice touch. Chrome and others could benefit. Hopefully developers adopt them

Bloatware removal helps too. Manufacturers add so much junk